Folsom School News
December 2019
Dear Folsom Families,
The holiday season at Folsom brings a lot of exciting events to our students. We are hosting a Christmas/Holiday Spirit Week during the week of December 16th. Students will have the chance to wear their “ugly sweater” and pajamas to school in the same week! In addition, we will hold our annual door decorating contest! Please check out the flyers below for an outline of the activities including the Family Craft Night followed by the Tree Lighting Ceremony.
Folsom is continuing our mission to support the local community through a number of service projects. The student council is hosting our annual food drive. We are asking for students to support the drive by bringing in a food item (see food drive flyer below). This year, the 8th graders are taking a leadership role in sponsoring the “Second Chance Toys” initiative. We are collecting "gently used plastic toys" for a local school- community (no fabric toys or toys with small, loose pieces). If you are interested in donating, the collection boxes will be located in the school foyer through December 10th. Lastly, the school-community is participating in the Giving Tree. We welcome families to participate by coming to the school to select a tree leaf that contains a gift idea from a child’s wish list.
Folsom runs to another championship season! On behalf of the Folsom staff, we would like to congratulate the boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams for their 2nd consecutive conference championship! The boys team finished the season undefeated while the girls had 1 loss. We wish the coaches and runners continued success on the cross-country course!
Lastly, this is the last call for families to nominate a teacher or educational services professional who is dedicated, inspiring, and making a difference at Folsom School. The Governor’s Educator of the Year (GEOY) recognition program aims to recognize educators and encourage them to become champions for education and advocates for students and teachers.
Please take the time to recommend a staff member for the Governor’s Educator of the Year Program by completing the nomination form located on the school website’s banner (www.folsomschool.org) by December 6th.
Happy Holidays!
Dr. Mazzoni
December's Character Trait Is...
Dates to Remember
5th
1st Trimester ends
8th Grade Science Fair
Family Craft Night 6:00-7:00 pm at Borough Hall
Tree Lighting 7:00 pm Borough Hall
6th
School Closed- Teacher In-Service
9th
2nd Trimester begins
Santa Secret Shop (students attend during scheduled time)
10th
Santa Secret Shop (students attend during scheduled library time)
11th
Santa Secret Shop (students attend during scheduled library time)
S.O.A.R. Breakfast (K-4) 8:45 am
Winter Concert 6:30 pm
12th
S.O.A.R. Breakfast (5-8) 8:45 am
13th
1st Trimester Report Card available on Parent Portal
Dance (Christmas) grades PK-4 6:00-8:00 pm
16th
Show your Holiday Spirit by wearing Red, Green, and White
17th
Christmas/Holiday Hat Day
Board of Education Meeting 6:00 pm
18th
Ugly Sweater Day
School Choice Lottery 10:00 am
19th
Pajama Day (no slippers please)
20th
12:45 Dismissal-Winter Recess Begins
Christmas/ Holiday Sock Day
Student Holiday Assembly
Holiday Craft Night
Santa Secret Holiday Shop Information
Christmas Spirit Week
Choice Applications
The Choice Application Process for the 2020-2021 school year deadline is December 3, 2019.
The Choice Lottery will take place on December 18, 2019 at 10:00 am.
Applications can be found on our website: www.folsomschool.org
Holiday Food Drive
Attendance
Attend Today…
Achieve Tomorrow!
“Chronic Absenteeism” is defined, by the State of New Jersey, as the percentage of a school’s students who are not present for 10% or more of the days that they were “in membership” at a school.
What is 10%?
2 days per month
18 days per year
Did you know Chronic Absenteeism…
•Is the primary cause of lower academic achievement? …even when the absences are “excused” or understandable
•Is a predictor of those students who may eventually drop out of school
•Can affect students in preschool, kindergarten, and 1st grade, who are then much less likely to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade
•Is not measured by most states or school districts, which leaves many educators and communities without information they need to identify students who could use additional supports to maintain regular attendance
FOLSOM’S ATTENDANCE POLICY
If a student is absent, their parent/guardian is required to call the
main office (609) 561- 8666 ext. 150.
Student must receive 4 hours of actual instruction to be considered in attendance for the school day.
Parents will receive written notification of child’s absences after 5, 10, and 15 days.
The school social worker will develop an action plan with the student’s parent/guardian to address patterns of habitual absences, as a support in maintaining regular attendance.
Excessive absences, lateness, or early dismissals will result in the district filing a complaint with New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency and/or the court program designed and required by the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
· Be sure your child has a regular bedtime
· Don’t allow your child to miss school unless truly sick
· Arrive to school on time
· Reach out to your school for support
WHAT WE ARE DOING AS A SCHOOL
The Folsom Board of Education believes that regular attendance in class, participation in class activities, and interaction between students and teachers are vital and integral parts of the learning process.
At the end of every month, the homeroom with the best percentage of attendance will be recognized and rewarded!
Your child’s academic growth and well-being are our primary concern. Let’s ensure that he/she has the necessary supports for continued success.
Every day counts!
RESOURCE OF INFORMATION: THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, ATTENDANCE WORKS, & FOLSOM BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY MANUAL
Yearbook
It's time to order your Yearbook!
Online orders can be made at Ybpay.lifetouch.com.
School code: 10868020
Order deadline: 4/8/2020
Yearbooks are $25 each.
Curriculum
It has been said that, “Children will invest themselves more in their writing if they are allowed, if they are taught to select their own topics or if they can write about subjects that are important to them”, we practice this here in Folsom Elementary School. Students often come to a writing task with an abundance of stories to tell and examples to share, but have a fear of not writing "correctly." It is this fear that prevents them from exploring with language and finding their own voice in their writing. Teachers must help students navigate in order not only to write, but also to create with organization, style, and ease. In Folsom, students follow the Lucy Calkins “Writer’s Workshop” which is a program that supports all types of writers. The teachers create a lesson for the class and then meet individually with students while they are writing to conference. During these conferences, teachers are able to give feedback or guidance on grammar usage or meet with the child to motivate them to write. The approach aligns with Vygotsky's claim, "What a child can do today with assistance, she will be able to do by herself tomorrow."
Over the past few weeks parents have been invited in to celebrate our writers/authors. As the children publish their writing, it gives them opportunities to share their writing and ask for feedback from their peers, parents, and visiting staff members. I would like to thank those family members who have attended our classroom celebrations. We are also excited to share these moments on our Folsom Facebook page.
Michele L. Hetzel
Director of Curriculum and Instruction
8th Grade Service Project
Physical Education and Athletic Department
“Try and fail, but don’t fail to try.”
Middle School:
Physical education uniforms are in and have been distributed to all middle school students.
Remember to check which day students have physical education for dressing out into uniform and succeed in 100% participation.
*Students who are not prepared will sit out.
(Receive a not prepared/ no participation grade. 5 unprepared, no participation, or low participation will lower grade 6 pts (2 pts. each).
Students can wear sweatshirts and/ sweatpants over uniforms for outside activities in November.
Uniform T-shirts $5.00 Uniform Shorts $11.00 (6th, 7th, and 8th graders)
Elementary K-5:
Reminder: check which day students have physical education so they are appropriately dressed.
For safety purposes:
Proper attire (no dresses) and sneakers are needed for physical education class.
*Students who are not prepared will receive an unprepared for that class period.
5 unprepared, no participation, or low participation will lower grade for that appropriate standard.
Jackets and warm clothes are important for our outside activities this time of year.
Athletic Department:
Folsom basketball boys and girls practices will begin in December!
Games will start after Winter Recess. Schedule will be posted on the website, be sure to come out and support our teams. Go Falcons!
Please be sure all SPORT PHYSICALS are completed, forms can be found on the Folsom school website.
Happy Holidays & Stay active.
N. DeSordi
Health and Physical education teacher
Nurse Notes
Reminders: All Pre-K students need proof of a flu shot sent to the nurse before Friday, December 20, 2019 or they will not be able to return to school on January 2, 2020.
We are in the middle of Flu Season. Flu symptoms: Sudden fever, feeling weak or overly tired, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, chills, body aches, vomiting and/or diarrhea. Protect yourself and your loved ones, learn what you can do to prevent the flu. Visit https://www.cdc.gov/features/fighttheflu/index.html
Counselor’s Corner
As parents, we all want our children to grow up healthy and successful. We also want our children to be grateful for what they have been given and have compassion for those who are in need. Teaching your children the spirit of giving, showing them the importance of thinking of others, and modeling kindness are important ways to help children grow into productive and loving members of our world.
Giving doesn’t require that you travel to a special destination. Showing your child how to give can be as easy as being a good neighbor.
Pay it forward. Small acts of kindness can help someone who is having a bad day see the good in the world and help us feel positive about ourselves. Model the following positive behaviors to your child any day of the year.
Volunteer. Teach your child how to give by giving something priceless—time and energy.
Donate. Giving away unused and gently used items is a great no-cost way to show your child how to help someone in need. In addition, helping to meet life-saving needs will show your child that we are all important and connected.
Give. You don’t have to give much, but monetary donations are always needed. Give when and if you can.
Click on the link below to learn practical ways to get your son/daughter to give back - Children’s Trust Program
Technology Tip
Have I Been Pwned?
Pwn is jargon and means to compromise or control.
To check if you have any accounts that has been compromised in a data breach, go the web site is called: “Have I Been Pwned?”.
Enter your email address on this site, the results will provide feedback if your account have been found to have been compromised.
If your account has been compromised, be sure to change the password on that account and take additional steps such as using 2 Factor Authentication.
Other features of the site will provide you notification when future pwnage occurs and your account is compromised.
Child Study Team
SEPAG meetings will be held on the following dates at Warren E. Sooy Media Center, Hammonton, NJ @ 6:30 PM.
- December 11, 2019
- February 12, 2020
- May 6, 2020
Are you aware of any children who may have physical, mental, language or emotional problems? Folsom School can help - Project Child Find is a service of the New Jersey State Department of Education to help identify unserved children with special needs birth to 21 years of age. Please call the Child Study Team for further information at 609-561-8666 Ext. 118
Folsom Borough Environmental Commission
The Folsom Environmental Commission is part of ANJEC, the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions.
The Commission:
- Promotes long term environmental planning within the Borough
- Inventory and plan and preserve Open Space
- Can report to ANJEC
- Addresses aquifer recharge, conservation easement, impervious surface limits, and stream corridor protection
You do not need a background in science to join, just an interest in the environment of our community. Meetings are currently scheduled to be held on the 4th Wednesday of each month at Borough Hall. 7:00 pm
Reminders
All personal items need to be labeled with your students name. Unidentified items not picked up will be donated.
A Driver License or Photo ID is needed when entering the school.
When sending payments in with your child, PLEASE send it in an envelope labeled with your child's name, homeroom teacher, and what the payment is for. CASH should never be sent in for Cafeteria payments. Visit the Parent Portal to make on line payments for lunch.
Anytime you are changing your child's dismissal routine, please send in a note.
Folsom Elementary School
Website: https://www.folsomschool.org
Location: 1357 Mays Landing Road, Hammonton, NJ, USA
Phone: 609-561-8666
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FolsomSchoolDistrictNJ/